The Senior Scene

The Legislature is halfway to approving new standards for memory care at assisted-living facilities in Washington.

The state Senate unanimously passed and the House of Representatives is considering passage of Senate Bill 5337, which would require certifications for assisted-living communities that provide memory care. Advocates for long-term care residents say the measure would help improving care and accountability. The House until April 16 to approve or reject the bill.

The proposed legislation is supported by the Alzheimer’s Association and the Washington State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, as well as SEIU 775, the labor union for thousands of care workers.

If approved by the House and later signed into law by the governor, the measure would provide increased safety measures, accountability, and transparency around memory care. It would standardize the definition of memory care, allow oversight by the state Department of Social and Health Services of facilities, and give the state attorney general enforcement authority under the Consumer Protection Act.

An estimated 70 percent of assisted-living residents have some form of dementia, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH): “As dementia and behavioral symptoms become increasingly common in AL (assisted living) settings, so do questions about the quality of dementia care in AL facilities,” NIH stated in a study of the issue.

Industry analysts say assisted living facilities tend to be large, with hundreds of residents and relatively low staff-to-resident ratios, and sometimes have track records that are difficult to monitor due to complex ownership and rebranding. In addition, unlike nursing homes, AL care workers currently aren’t required to be certified nursing assistants or registered nurses and have minimal training and minimum wages—factors that can affect the quality of care for residents, according to supporters of the proposed state standards. 

COMMENTARY

By Senior Citizens League

At a hearing before the U.S. Senate nomination committee, Robert Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services, seemed confused about Medicaid and how it is funded. When asked how he would reform Medicaid, he had no answer.

This comes on top of the news that top Republicans in the House of Representatives are passing around a 50-page list of ideas on how to cover the cost of an extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts, which will allow corporations to pay lower taxes, among other things. The list includes cuts to Medicaid and new tariffs on all imports to pay for those cuts.

So, what is Medicaid, and how many seniors rely on it for their healthcare? 

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage to over 72 million Americans, including children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is the single largest source of health coverage in the United States.

Millions of older Americans rely on Medicaid coverage. Approximately 7.2 million over age 65 are enrolled in Medicaid, and more than 11 million aged 50 to 64 have health coverage through Medicaid.

Nearly 6 million older adults live below the federal poverty level. Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of seniors and older Americans on fixed incomes. 

Medicaid funds nearly half of long-term care nationwide. As seniors age, long-term care becomes more essential, serving about 70 percent  who will need some form of long-term care in their lives.

Medicaid pays for about 62 percent of long-term care residents in nursing homes. It  covers nursing-home bills for over 60 percent of residents. In 2019, this totaled over $50 billion. The median private nursing-home room cost over $100,000 yearly in 2024.

Approximately 12 million seniors who Medicare covers also have Medicaid coverage. Nearly 8 million dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid beneficiaries are “full benefit” Medicaid enrollees with access to a range of Medicaid benefits not otherwise covered by Medicare, such as transportation to medical appointments and medical equipment.

Older adults depend on Medicaid for affordable, comprehensive care. Older Americans often have more complex health issues, requiring additional medical attention that is costly and would be out of reach if not for Medicaid. Nearly half of dual enrollees are seniors of color, and over half of dual enrollees suffer from long-term disabilities.

We will be watching this issue closely because Medicaid clearly affects millions of seniors.

The Senior Citizens League (seniorleague.org) is a national, non-profit advocate for seniors’ benefits,

Pierce County is planning monthly workshops to help military veterans with their U.S. Veterans Affairs claims. The first workshop will be held on April 8 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the county’s Human Services Department, located in Tacoma at 3602 Pacific Ave., suite 200. Registration, which is required, and other information is available at piercecountywa.gov/vso. The events will continue on the second Tuesday of every month.    Whether veterans are new to filing a claim or seeking to strengthen an existing one, the workshops are intended to ensure that they are being handled efffectively. invaluable insights into what the VA looks for and how to present a claim effectively, said County Executive Ryan Mello.

“Pierce County has and always will be a huge supporter of veterans. Our goal is to empower veterans by giving them the knowledge and resources they need to navigate the VA claims process with confidence,” Mello said. “The process can be overwhelming, especially with so many unknowns at the federal level, and we’re here to provide support every step of the way.”

Vets can meet one-on-one with an accredited veterans support officer and schedule followup appointments for continued support.